Sheffield family are in benefits show

A Sheffield family featured on Channel 5’s new series Benefits: My Big Benefits Family last night.

The Kerrigan family were the focus of the second episode of the new series of Benefits on Channel 5 at 8pm and Channel 5+1 at 9pm.

As the show describes them: “The Kerrigans are a super-sized family who claim together and stay together.

“Three generations of this close-knit clan live in one of the most deprived parts of Sheffield and claim tens of thousands of pounds in benefits each year – but they do not lose any sleep over it. They insist that they are simply getting what they are entitled to.

“Mum-of-five Rose, 52, the head of the family, volunteers with sister Annette at the local food bank. “Between them they claim more than £1,000 each month in benefits.

“Neither has ever had a full-time job.

“Annetteʼs son Adam is a father of four and has been on the dole for three years.

“He still lives at home with his mum while his girlfriend lives down the road in a different house with one of his kids.

“Roseʼs nephew Robert is also on benefits, but this does not stop him from spending.

“Robert insists that his children wonʼt be dressed in “cheap tacky clothes”.

“The same goes for him too – he buys himself at least one pair of designer trainers every few weeks.”

The hour-long programme explored their lives in depth and featured a series of footage shot in their Sheffield home.

Twitter reacted to the family being featured on the show.

While the Kerrigans were unrepentant in their lifestyle choice, fellow Sheffielders were up in arms online with comments to The Star’s Facebook and Twitter sites.

- Did you see the show? Let us know what you think by tweeting @SheffieldStar or at Facebook.com/SheffieldStar. The full episode is also available on catchup via Channel5.com.